What is Medicare?
How do I apply?
When am I eligible?
Understanding Medicare
Medicare has 4 Parts, each covering its own field
What are my Medicare options?
Original Medicare | * Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, & some home health care. * Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, & preventive services. |
Medicare Advantage Plans | * This is an alternative way to receive Medicare benefits. * Medicare Advantage is offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. * Plans cover all Medicare Part A & Part B benefits often including additional benefits such as vision, dental, & hearing coverage, & may include prescription coverage (similar to Part D). * Plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare. * There are several types of Medicare Advantage Plans: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, * Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans, & Special Needs Plans (SNPs). |
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans | * These plans add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private-Fee-for-Service plans, & Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. * Offered by insurance companies & other private companies approved by Medicare. * Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, may lower your costs & protect against higher costs in the future. |
Medicare Supplement Insurance | * Sold by private companies. Helps pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, & deductibles. * Medigap policies are standardized & are identified in most states by letters. * Medigap coverage works only with Original Medicare & is not a way to get Medicare benefits (cannot be used with Medicare Advantage Plans). |